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Okay so I've been using a Citadel Artificer Layer size M for a while now, and it's just absolutely sublime. I get that it's not cheap but the individual that I have is nothing short of exquisite, true story. The S size that I have is not so good but passable.

Anyway, Miniac highly recommended Raphael 8404 series brushes and I got a bunch of them online, namely sizes 2,1,0, and 00. Now I actually haven't tried size 2 yet, it's a bit bigger than I expected. But the size 1 is absolutely magical, no complaints. The issues that I have are with sizes 0 and 00. Both of them hold a nice point when you wet them with your tongue or gently roll them to a point, but when you actually load up some paint and start doing some work, their tips literally EXPLODE into a mess that cannot be used for painting at all. I've tried different amounts of moisture and paint but to no avail.

Have I just gotten bad individual Raphaels or am I doing it wrong? I there anything that can be done? Brush soap? Anything?

Additional question, if you are able to buy brushes from an actual art store or equivalent, what's the best way to assess if a brush is good or not? You cannot do it only visually without tampering with the hair, that's for sure.